Clutch.



Patented Feb. 20, 191.2

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

C. 0., HIGH.

CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1911.

1,017,802. Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

UNITED STATES; PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES CLAYTON RICH, or xouNT vEnNoN, NEWYYORK, 'AssIeNoR To THE HYDRO- KINETIC TRANSMISSION CC., or MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION or MAINE. i

To all whom may 6mm.-

Be it known thatI, CHARLES CLAYTON Y RICH, citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Vernon, in the county of Westchester and State of; New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clutches, of which the following is a specification. I v

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements fin-clutches of the fluid type, and relates particularly to tha character of clutch for which I obtained Letters Patent of the United States, Number 988,817, dated April 4, 1911. The patented clutch just referred to embodies a rotor, a rotor casing provided with inlet and outlet ports, and a shiftable shell casing surrounding the rotor casing and inclosing the latter and the rotorand adapted to control the communication between the inlet and outletports, whereby power may be transmitted direct from a drive shaft to a well .as longitudinally movable, the line of shaftln'g being considered, and the primary object of the present invention is a construction and arrangement of parts whereby the outside housing or case, corresponding to the shiftable shell casing of the patented device in so far as the inclosing of the other parts is concerned, may, if desiredbe held 40 relatively stationary, with the result, amon other things, that space is economized an a more simple, durable and efficient construction secured. v

It is to be understood that the same results are attained by the construction of the present invention as are obtained byv the patented dev ce, the present embodiment of the broad principles of theinvention securing, however, additional features of advantage which will be hereinafter pointed out' and at once rendered apparent to those Specification of Letters Patent.

CLUTCH.

skilled in the art to appertains. I y

The invention also has formant. its objects a clutch of the fluid typeembodying which this invention PatentedFeb. 20,1912. Application filed xarch-29,-1911., Serial No. 617,777.

improved means whereby at one limitof n the-operative movement-of. the clutch, the drive and driven shafts'will be mechanically connected togethenthe rotor and rotor cas ing both being entirely relieved of the stress of transmission of power. 1

Furthermore, like the patented construc tion, the present invention has for its ob ject an improved clutch of this character which will be sensitive in' its action and capable of being very easily manipulated, there beingpractically no pressure whatever, at anytime in the operation of the clutch, Within the outer case or casing'of the device, this admitting of the use of stufiing boxes of light construction and easy pressure against the packing, whereby the frictional resistance to the-movement of the valve or gate which controls the ports of the rotor casing is reduced .to a minimum.

The invention also hasvfor its object a device of this character in which ample clutch of the fluid type in which the shiftable valve or gate at all times constitutes a bearing for the rotor casing, thereby assisting in retaining the drive and driven shafts in proper alinement; and as a feature subsidlary or ancillary to the one just hereinbefore described, the invention also has for its object a construction and arrangement of parts whereby theelement which is employed to co-act with the longitudinally shiftable valve or gate to mechanically lock or connect the drive and driven shafts is so arranged thatit, also, when'desirable, may serve asa bearing for the rotatable rotor casing, securing by this means the same advantages as are produced by the proportion and arrangement of parts of the valve and rotor casing. And the invention also aims to generally improve this class of .de-

vices and to render them more useful and commercially desirable in connection with automobiles or other motor vehicles,.marine vessels, and other mechanism generally, particularly that which is designed to be driven by motors or engines of the internal com-.

bustion type. I 1

With these and other objects in view as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions, arrangements and combinations of the parts that-I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is had to the'following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a transverse sectlonal view of my improved clutch; Fig. 21s a transverse sectionon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3

' being shown detached from each other and.

is a perspective viewof the rotor casing, the rotor, and one of its blades, these parts in juxtaposition; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the port controlling valve or gate employed; Fig. 5 is a similar view .of a key which may be. used; and Fig. 6 is an elevation illustrating an embodimeut'of dd J the device in which reducing gears are em ployed, the casing for said gears being shown in section.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and-indicated in all the views of the accompanying driven shaft B. In the present instance, the

blades 2 are formed at their side edges with lugs 2 working 1n circular channels 3 formed in the heads of the rotor casing 3., it

being of course understood that said casing may be formed with either one or both of its heads as a separate element secured to the body portion thereof in any desired way.

Each of the blades 2 carries at its outer end a shoe 4 which is curved so as to conform to the wall of the chamber in the casing 3 with which the shoes contact, the connection between the shoes and their blades being Such as to permit a slight rocking movement of the shoes so as to at all times secure and maintain proper engagement.

The rotor casing 3 is formed with an inle a passage or port 5 and an outlet passage or port 6, spaced" from each other a predetermined dlstance, as best illustrated in Fig.

2, said inlet and outlet passages opening from and into, respectively, an annular raceway 7 which is formed intermediate of the opposite side edges of the body portion 8 of an outer houslng or case C. Manifestly, this case or housing may be formed of any desired number of parts or sections, transversely considered. It is shown as provided with heads 9 and 10 secured tothe body portion by stud bolts. In order that the rotor lar fluid medium will have free circulation around the raceway -7, and consequently, the rotation of the shaft A and the rotor 1 will impart no movement Whatever to the rotor casing and consequently no movement to the driven shaft B.

In order to regulate, or if desired to absolutely shut off the communication between the ports or passages 5, 6, and the raceway 7 so as to transmit power to'the driven shaft to rotate the latter within a Wide range of gradation in speed, from-the slowest up to the highest of which the eligine rotating the drive shaft is capable, the present invention provides a longitudinally shiftable valve or gateD, the same, in the present instance, embodying a cylindrical drum 12 which snugly fits within the housing or case C and which is designed to be moved longitudinally to partially or wholly cover and un cover the communication between the ports or passages 5 and 6 and the raceway 7, before mentioned. In addition to the cylin drical body portion or drum 12 of the valve, said valve includes a web or head 13 disposed perpendicularly to the shaft (said web being formed with any desired number of openings 14 so as to permit of free liquid displacement and a consequent free move ment of the valve), and a sleeve 15 which is mounted for a longitudinal sliding movement on the driven shaft B, said sleeve passing through a stufiing box 16 with which the housing or case 0 1s provided, and being compelled to turn or rotate with the driven shaft B, owing to the fact that there is .a spline and groove connection between the sleeve and said shaft. In the present embodiment of the device, the key 17 that is secured to the-driven shaft B and that also serves to connect to said shaft the rotor casing 3, is longitudinally grooved, as 1nd1- cated in Fig.1 and illustrated more in deits outer end with an annular grooved collar 20 designed for thereception of a oke 21 of a shipper lever (not shown), an the sleeve works on a stufiing'box 22 so as to secure a fluid tight joint around the shaft B.

23 designates a stuflingbox t-hrough which the shaft A extends. I

It will be remembered that the statement of the objects of the present invention included means whereby the drive and driven parts may be mechanically locked or con-- nected together so as to relieve the fluid operated parts of strain andwear. To secure this result, the present; invention includes any desired number, shape, and disposition of lugs, protuberances, or depressions 24 formed on the valve 12, and a correspond-- ing number, shape, and disposition of lugs,

protuberances, or depressions 25 on a plate 26 which is keyed or otherwise rigidly connected to the drive shaft A. By this means it is to be understood that when the valve D is moved in a direction to entirely shut off the communication between the ports or passages 5 and 6 and the annular raceway 7 of the case G (that is, to the right in Fig.1); the complementary lugs, protuberance, or

. depressions will interlock'between the valve D and plate 26, thereby producing a me chanical connection, instead of a fluid operated connection, between the driving shaft A andthe driven shaft B on which respectively the plate 26 and valve D are lqeyed. By this means, it will-be noted that at one limit of the operative movement bf the clutch, the drive and driven shafts will be mechanically connected, the rotor and rotor casing being both entirely relieved of the stress of transmission of power, the power being transmitted from the drive shaft to the driven shaft, by and through the me: dium of the plate 26 which is secured to the drive shaft and the ports closing valveor gate which is splined to the driven .shaft, the mechanical connection between the drive and driven shaft being completed through the interengagementof the complemental lugs 25 or their equivalent, formed on the late and valve respectively, as before set orth. M 3

The hub 27 of the valve D is formed on its outermost face with any desired number and disposition of grooves 2,8.extending parallel to'the shafti'ng, the grooves also extending radially and in an outward direction as shown, wherebyf even when the valve is atthe limit of itsmovement in one direction,

i. e., in its full ino'erative position, there will benopossibihty of farming a fluid pressure cushion between said hub and the corresponding or adjacent portion of the head 10" of the housing of case C. For a similar reason, that is, to avoid any fluid I cushioning when the valve D is at the other limit of its movement, the "adjoining hub of theoperation of my improved clutch will be apparent.

In describing the'practicaluse of the de vice it will be understood that when the 'parts are in' the relative positions illustrated in Fig. 1, the ports or passages 5 and 6 will be entirely open to the annular raceway 7 of the housing or case C, whereby a free circulation of the oil or other fluid medium will be permitted and the rotation of the shaft A and the consequent rotation of the rotor 1 will have no effect whatever upon the rotor casing 3 and will therefore impart no movementto the driven shaft B. By moving the valve D't o the right (in Fig. 1) the communication between the-raceway 7 and the inlet and outlet ports or passages may be gradually cut oil, so-as to secure anygradation in speed, and, when ,the valve D hasbeen moved far enough to completely out off the communication between the nice way and the outlet and inlet ports or passages, it will of courseb understood that the circulation of the fiui will be entirelyprevented and ,the driven shaft will have power transmitted to it 'direct from and.

commensurate with the p er and rotation of the drive shaft A. When theparts are in thisposition, however, the fluid pressure is not depended upon at all, but, instead,-

such as will be produced when the clutch, is embodied in an automobile or other motor driven vehicle, and for thispurpose the case or housing C may be providedwith spaced lugs c to receive sup orting rods orv similar sustaining devices. referably, the inlet and outlet ports or passages 5 and'6 are beveled or rounded atone end, as indicated M115 and 6' respectively, whereby they 1 v will present the most eflicient openings to the fluid medium and produceythe leastpos- 'si-ble dragging or frictional 'efiect thereon. In other words, this particular-design is employed to facilitate the ingress and egress of the fluid with as little frictionalresistance as possible, which is of importance when the portsare uncovered and the shafts a e f r nd p ndent movement.

It is to be understood of course that the invention is not limited to any particular disposition, size or form of the inlet and housing C to admit of the introduction or withdrawal of the oil or other fluid medium.

Reference is now to be had to Fig. 6, in which is illustrated another embodiment of my invention. This View is used'to show that, if desired, I may employ reducing gears and a mechanically'controlled clutch, in connection with the other parts of the invention. In Fig. 6, C' designates the 'housingor case corresponding to the partC hereinbefore described, 15 designates the sleeve thereof, B designates the driven shaft and A designates the drive shaft, the latter being composed of a plurality of sec tions, three in number in the present instance, designated a, a and a". The sec- -tions a and a may be connected and disconnected bymeans of a mechanical clutch 30, for use whenever deemed advisable, and in this connection it is to be particularly noted that the clutch 30 may be operated to connect the sections a and a with the engine shaft running at its highest speed, but

.with the valve D in its inoperative position,

as there is comparatively nostrain upon the shaft B as the fluid medium may circulate freely through the passages 5 and 6 and around the annular raceway 7 The section a is connected to the section a" by means of reducing gears 31, 32,33 and 34;, the

gears 32 and 33 being mounted upon a stub shaft 35 and the whole being housed with a casing'E which is in the. present instance shown as bolted' .to the adjoining'head 9 of the housing C, but which may be, if de= sired, an integral part thereof.

It is of course understood that the use of the term inlet port or passage as applied to the part designated 5 and the term outlet port or passage as applied to the opening 6, are merely arbitrarily used and interchangeable, as the rotor is of course reversible and one of these two ports or passages is the inlet passage and the other'the outlet port or passage according to the direction in which the drive shaft A is rotating.

While the foregoing description and accompanying drawings set forth the pre ferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be 'rangement and proportions of the parts the inlet and outlet ports, and a housing surrounding the valve and rotor casing and provided with a raceway adapted to communicate with said ports.

' 2. A clutch of the character described, comprising a rotor, a shaft to which the rotor is connected, a rotor casing in which the rotor is mounted, said casing being formed with inlet and outlet ports, a shaft to which said rotor casing is connected, a valve having a longitudinally sliding movement on the last named-shaft and adapted to surround the rotor casing to control the communication between .the ports thereof, and a housing surrounding the valve'and rotor casing and provided with 'a raceway adapted to communicate with the ports of the rotor casing.

3. A clutch of the character described, comprising a rotor, a shaft to which the rotor is connected, a rotor casing in which the rotor is 'mounted, said casing being formed with inlet and outlet-ports, a shaft to which said rotor casing is connected, a valve having a longitudinally sliding movement on the last named shaft and adapted to surround the rotor casing to control the communication between the ports thereof, and a relatively stationary housing surrounding the valve and rotor casing and provided with a raceway adapted to communicate with the ports of the rotor casing.

' 4:. A clutch of the. character described. comprising, in combination with drive and driven shafts, a rotor connected to the drive shaft, a rotor casing connected to the driven shaft and formed with inlet and outlet ports, a valve longitudinally movableiupon the driven shaft but compelled. to rotate therewith andv adapted to surround the rotor casing to cover and uncover the ports thereof, a housing surrounding said valve and rotor casing, and means for mechanically connecting said valve and the drive shaft upon the movement of said valve in one direction 'with the inlet and outlet ports of the rotor casing covered.

5. A clutch of the character described, comprising a-drive shaft, a. driven shaft, a

rotor connected to the drive shaft, a rotor casing surrounding. the rotor and provided with inlet and outlet ports and connected to the driven shaft, a valve movable longitudinally on the driven shaft, but rotatable therewith, the valve embodying -a cylindri cal drum adapted to slip over upon the ro tor casing and control the inlet and outlet portsthereof, a housing surrounding the valve and rotor casing and in which the valve has a rotatable bearing, said housing being formed with a raceway adapted to communicate with the inlet and outlet ports of the rotor casing, a plate secured to the drive shaft, and means on the valve and plate adapted to co-act for interlocking engagement upon the movement of the valve to the position in which the communication between the inlet and outlet ports of the rotor casing are shut off from the raceway of the casing.

6. A clutch of the character described, comprising a drive shaft, a driven shaft, a rotor connected to the drive shaft, a rotor casing connected to the driven shaft and formed with inlet and outlet ports,'a valve movable longitudinally on-the driven shaft and rotatable therewith and adapted to slipover the rotor casing to control, that is, cover and uncover the inlet and outlet ports thereof, a housing surrounding the valve and rotor casing and provided with a raceway in the path of movement of the inlet and outlet orts of the rotor casing, the valve including a sleeve movable upon the driven shaft and protruding out from the housing, and means connected to said sleeve for moving the valve.

7. A clutch of the character described,

comprising a drive shaft, a driven shaft, a rotor connected to the drive shaft, a rotor casing connected to the driven shaft, the rotor casing being provided with inlet and outlet ports, avalve consisting ofv a cylindrical drum adapted to slip over the rotor casing to cover and uncover the ports thereof and a web formed with openings, a housing surround ing the drum of the valve and the rotor casing and formed with a raceway in the path of movement of the inlet and outlet ports of the rotor casing, and means for moving the valve.

8. A clutch of the character described,

comprising a drive shaft, a driven shaft, a rotor connected to the drive shaft, a rotor casing connected to the driven shaft, the ro- Y tor casing being provided with inlet and outlet ports, a valve embodying'a cylindrical drum adapted to slip over the rotor casing to cover and uncover the ports thereof, a housing surrounding the drum of the valve and the rotor casing and formed with a raceway in the path of movement of the inlet and outlet ports of the rotor casing, the valve being also provided with a hub and the hub being formed with displacement ves, for the purpose specified.

9. A clutch of the character comprising a drive shaft, a driven shaft, a

described,

rotor connected to the driveshaft, a rotor casing connected to the driven shaft and formed with inlet and outlet ports, a valve movable on the driven shaft and rotatable therewith and adapted to slip over the rotor casing to control'the ports thereof, a housing surrounding the valve and rotor casing, the housin being formed with a raceway in the patho movement of the inletand outlet ports of the rotor casing and the rotor casing being formed with a hub, the valve also being formed with a hub adapted to fit over the hub of the rotor casing and the hub of the rotor casing being formed with fluid displacement grooves, for the purpose specified.

10. A clutch of the character described, comprising a rotor, a rotor casing proyided with inlet and outlet ports, a shiftable valve surrounding the rotor casing and adapted to control the communication between said inlet and outlet ports, a shaft to which the rotor is connected, another shaft to which the rotor casing is connected, a housing surrounding the rotor casin and 'valve and formed with a race-way a apted to communicate with said inlet and outlet openings, and means for mechanically connecting toerative movement of the valve.

11. In a clutch of the character described, a pum including a casing. rovided with inlet an outlet ports, a move le valve controlling the communication between said inlet and outlet ports, and a housing inclosing the casing and movable valve and provided with a race-way to communicate with said when the valve is in one position an arranged to be artly or wholly closed to communicate witli said ports in other positions of the valve, the pump also including liquid forcing elements mounted in the casing, a shaft to which said casing is secured, and another shaft with which the liquid forcing elements are connected.

12. In a clutch of the character described, a pump including a casing provided with inlet and outlet ports, a housing inclosing the casing and provided with a race-way, a valve movable in said housing and over said casing and arranged to close and open the communication between said orts and the race-way, the pump also inc uding liquid forcing elements mounted in' the casing, a shaft to whichsaid casing is secured, and another shaft with which the liquid forcing elements are connected.

In testimon whereof, I aflix my signature in presence 0 two witnesses.

CHARLES ctirrormcu. a. a]

. gether the two shaft-s at one limit of the oprts 

